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Ulverston family’s ultimate tribute to teen Alice

THE family of inspirational teenager Alice Pyne were on top of the world yesterday after honouring one of her final wishes.

THE family of inspirational Ulverston teenager Alice Pyne were on top of the world yesterday after honouring one of her final wishes.

Alice’s sister Milly, 15, and dad Simon reached the summit of Kilimanjaro at 7am UK time, after a six day climb.

The pair scattered some of Alice’s ashes at the top of Africa’s highest mountain to honour the late cancer campaigner’s request.

Alice’s mum, Vicky, had set off with the rest of the group but had to return to base after a fellow team member became ill.

Grandmother Pauline Pennington praised Milly for her persistence in reaching the summit: “We’ve had a text from Vicky and she’s over the moon, absolutely over the moon that Milly has done it.

“We were all willing her on to do it, especially when Vicky had to turn back.

“She’s done really well because I think it’s been a pretty horrendous couple of days. But she’s kept going because she’s a determined little thing, a little antelope she would have been going up that mountain.”

The climb also served as a fundraiser for Alice’s Escapes, a charity which provides holidays for the families of seriously ill children.

Supporters waited anxiously for news via social media in the early hours as the team made their final ascent towards the summit.

Well-wishers were glued to the charity’s official Facebook and Twitter pages for step by step updates.

Mrs Pyne wrote: “It’s 6am UK time and as yet no news from our trekkers. This must mean they’re still walking one tiny step at a time about to summit.

“You can’t move more than one foot in front of the other, every breath a physical effort and to step up onto a boulder seems an impossible task.”

Confirmation that Milly had made it to the top came shortly after.

Mrs Pyne wrote: “Just heard from my baby girl who is standing on top of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain!

“Milly and her dad have reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and they’re now introducing Alice to the mountain.”

Alice died in January aged 17 after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma for more than five years. The Pride of Britain award winner became world famous for her “bucket list” blog.